Sport

Pritchard absence a blow - Luongo

MASSIMO Luongo has said Alex Pritchard will be a “big miss” for Swindon Town after the midfielder was handed a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards this season.

Pritchard picked up his 10th booking of the season at Walsall on Tuesday night and the Football Association yesterday confirmed that the on-loan Tottenham youngster will now miss the weekend clash with Oldham Athletic and next Wednesday’s trip to Peterborough United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Luongo accepted that Pritchard’s boots would be hard to fill but he feels Town have enough strength in depth to cope during his absence.

“He is a big miss, he always brings something out of the bag for us but it gives us the option to play something else,” said the Aussie. “Maybe two up front works better without Pritchard but we’ve got more than capable people to fill in for him.

“It’s a time when people who have been out of the squad can take their chance. I know Pritch wants to keep his place but with too many yellow cards you can’t do anything about that.

“Our squad is looking big now in training, we’ve got good depth so it’s looking like a real squad.”

These things happen and its a squad game. This ban will be complete by this time next week. Anyway, if there are any 2 games remaining in the season I would want him to miss, these would be the 2.

These things happen and its a squad game. This ban will be complete by this time next week. Anyway, if there are any 2 games remaining in the season I would want him to miss, these would be the 2.swindonjason

Yeah becasue we have really struggled to score goals at home this year!
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31 in just 13 games - and with us always playing "one up top"!
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This ban and injuries could be a good thing in a way as it really allows us to look at our actual squad as no Spurs boys will be involved tomorrow
.
As Luongo said the squad is looking healthier now - so we do have plenty of options and fully expect us to come out clear winners by a couple of goals
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We can stick to the diamond and simply replace Pritchard with Harley or Barker in the hole - especially as Barker has siad thats his perferred positon
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We could go with a flat 442 and have Byrne come in for Pritchard on the left and Barthram on the right for L.Thompson
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We could go 433 and have Byrne come in for Pritchard on the left and N'Guessan on the right for Ranger or Smith
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Then we can look at the midfield trio and potentially put Harley or Barker in for L.Thompson if we want to go for it or leave it as it is if we want to be a bit more solid
.
Plus Cooper could always put Tijane and Troy in the squad be it on the bench or even start and that would give us even more options
.
I personally would go diamond with Harley coming in for Pritchard as it gives us the most continuity and allows us to really work on that formation if we are going to start apoting it away from home

Yeah becasue we have really struggled to score goals at home this year!
.
31 in just 13 games - and with us always playing "one up top"!
.
This ban and injuries could be a good thing in a way as it really allows us to look at our actual squad as no Spurs boys will be involved tomorrow
.
As Luongo said the squad is looking healthier now - so we do have plenty of options and fully expect us to come out clear winners by a couple of goals
.
We can stick to the diamond and simply replace Pritchard with Harley or Barker in the hole - especially as Barker has siad thats his perferred positon
.
We could go with a flat 442 and have Byrne come in for Pritchard on the left and Barthram on the right for L.Thompson
.
We could go 433 and have Byrne come in for Pritchard on the left and N'Guessan on the right for Ranger or Smith
.
Then we can look at the midfield trio and potentially put Harley or Barker in for L.Thompson if we want to go for it or leave it as it is if we want to be a bit more solid
.
Plus Cooper could always put Tijane and Troy in the squad be it on the bench or even start and that would give us even more options
.
I personally would go diamond with Harley coming in for Pritchard as it gives us the most continuity and allows us to really work on that formation if we are going to start apoting it away from homeLondon Red